Linda Taormina Brunken

Linda Taormina Brunken passed away November 7, 2025, at the age of 78. Linda was born in New Orleans, April 5, 1947. She attended St. Pius X and St. Joseph Academy. She retired from Shell Oil Company after more than 30 years of service as a geophysical technician.

Linda lived an intentional life, filling her days with people and purpose. She brought so many together at countless pool parties and family celebrations. Anyone could pull up a chair at her kitchen table on Sheridan Avenue, and she’d have the coffee brewing or wine pouring.

She loved LSU football and the Tiger Marching Band, Australian Shepherds, chocolate snoballs, beignets, beach trips, all things Italian—especially cannoli, oldies and 80s country music, horse shows, a good garage sale, Wednesday game nights and Friday dinners with the girls, Mardi Gras parades, and watching Hallmark Christmas movies and old episodes of Murder She Wrote. She was a fantastic barrel racer in her younger years, and in her later years she enjoyed volunteering for the WYES Showboat Auction and St. Vincent’s Guild. She made the best instant grits and butter sandwiches, and she took all the pictures, capturing all our memories.

She loved her family fiercely and she was never wrong. She was a voice of reason. She survived cancer twice, taught us all how to “Mardi Gras” and always showed up for the people she loved. Summers at Camp Granny will forever be the best summers. She was an extraordinary granny, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, cousin, and friend.

Linda is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Brigette and Jeremy Starr, her grandchildren, Jasper, Sam and Bianca Starr, her brother, Frank Roy Taormina and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Rosario F. Taormina and Marjorie J. Taormina, and her sister, Maryann Taormina Miramon.

The family would like to thank Dr. Thomas Atkinson and Dr. Carl Gay for giving us nearly five extra years that we otherwise would not have had.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at St. Francis Xavier School, 444 Metairie Road on Monday, November 17 at 11:15am. Visitation will begin at 10:00am. Interment will follow in Lake Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Francis Xavier Catholic School, 215 Betz Place, Metairie, LA 70005.